Fastener supplying mechanism



May 7, 1935- Al Al I AwsoN 2,000,139

FASTENER SUPPLYING' MEGIIISMA Original Filed Sept. 20, 1952 m mi Patented May 7, 1935 U-Nrllao STATES FASTENER SUPPLYING MECHANISM v, Axel A. Lawson, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application September 20, 1932, Serial No. 633,973. Divided and this application March 31, 1933, Serial No. 663,786

-7 Claims.

This invention relates to fastener-inserting machines and more especially to automatic mechanism for supplying fasteners to such machines. The present application is a division of my copending application' Serial No. 633,973, led

September 20, 1932 in which the subject-matter hereinafter described and claimed is illustrated and described in conjunction with' a fastener-inserting machine.` v

v The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in fastener-supplying mechanism ofY the duplex type wherein a hopper and a raceway comprising two divisions are organized vto Aform a unit that maybe readily attached to a fastener-inse'rtingV machine of corresponding type. In such machines it is frequently necessary to remove one fastener-supplying unit and substitute another containing fasteners Vof a different color, size or style, but the removal of one unit and the mounting of another also involves the operating connections between a source of power and devices arranged inthe hopper for feeding fasteners from the latter to the divisions of the raceway. In the illustrated construction the fastener-feeding devices are arranged to rotate about axes angularly related to each other, that relation being the most satisfactory, sinceY it insures equalization of the quantities of fasteners delivered to the two divisions of a raceway of the type disclosed.`

With the above-described conditions to be dealt with, an object of the present invention is to pro-l vide an improved organizationin which the elements are so related that the mere act of placing a fastener-supplying unit in cooperative relation to a fastener-inserting machine will establish cooperative relations between angularly related fastener-feeding devices carried by the unit and operating members mounted in or on the machine itself. l

Another object of the invention is to provide for regulating the capacity of a hopper and controlling a relatively large mass of fasteners therein rso that the weight of the mass will not cause congestion of those fasteners that lie at the bottom of thehopper. K

A novel feature relating to this aspect of the invention consists in a hopper comprising a lower section having a mouth at the top and one or more ports for emitting fasteners, and a detachable upper sectionformed to be seated on and supported by the lower section, the sections being provided with cooperative means for connecting and securing them in that relation, and the upper section having a depressed bottom wall formed andA arranged to coverV said mouth and enter the lower section and provided with a restrictive opening through which fasteners may be discharged in small volume at a level substantially lower than said mouth. This construction also provides for omitting the upper sectionfof the hopper when the capacity of a fastener-supplying unit is otherwise sufficient for a run `of fasteners of a certain size or style, and it provides also for transferring an upper `section from one fastener-supplying unit to another so that it can be used withv any unit when a relatively large quantity of fasteners of a selected size or style is required. Thus, one or more upper sections may be used interchangeably with any number of fastener-supplying units to increase their individual capacities.

The invention also provides for interchanging an upper section and a lid or closure, and for alternative use of the same means for securing an upper section or the closure, as the case may be, to the lower section. Moreover, each upper section, of which any desired number may be provided, is provided with securing means of the same type and arrangement as those of the lower section. Consequently, a closure designed to be secured to or by the securing means of the lower section may be likewise secured to an upper section. 'Ihis feature also provides for stacking a plurality of upper sections and securing them, one to another, in exactly the lsame manner asftha't of securing one of them directly to the lower section.

Referring'to the drawing, I

Fig. 1 is a left-side elevation, partly'in sec'- tion, of a fastener-supplying unit mounted on the frame of a fastener-inserting machine a portion of which is includedin the figure;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking downon the jointed or articulated portion of the raceway;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the raceway-latching devices intersected byk the line III-III in Fig. 1; and f n Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the fastenersupplying hopper in the plane indicated in the line IV-IV in Fig. 1.

To facilitate reference to my said copendin application Serial No. 633,973, the reference numerals used herein to'designateelements of the mechanism are vthe sameas those used in my former said application to designate corresponding elements. The general organization of the fastenersupplying mechanism herein illustrated is similar in many respects to the corresponding mechanism shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,900,055, granted March 7, 1933, on application of S. L. Gookin, although the present invention provides certain novel and improved features hereinafter set forth. The construction of the fastener-supplying mechanism with which the present invention is concerned is such that two series of fasteners such as eyelets, maygravitate from a duplex supply hopper |2l tothe delivery end of an inclined duplex raceway compris- 2. ing two divisions |22 and |23 affixed, respectively,

to the upper and lower surfaces of an interposed block 24. Moreover, the raceway is divided at an intermediate point of its length to provide a` stationary upper section and a movable lowerv section |25. A pivot-pin |l connects the two sections of the raceway to form an articulated joint, the lower end of the blockl 24 and the upper end of the section |25 beingmortised one into the other to form the joint through which the pivot-pin extends. All these elements, including the entire raceway structure andthe hopper |2|, constitute a unit that may be readily attached to and detached from the frame 20 of a fastenerinserting machine to provide for rapid exchange in Fig. 3'. The body-portions of the studs are cylindrical and the raceway-block 24is provided withcylindrical sockets |28 to receive them. The length of the studs is considerably greater than 'the width of the block |24, and the outer ends of the studs therefore project a considerable distance beyond the block when the latter is mounted thereon in abutting relation to the frame 20. Segments of the projecting ends of the studs are cut away to provide clearance for correspondingly shaped latching devices |29 having hollow shanks or stems |30 arranged to slide in radially extending sockets formed in the studs. Each hollow -stem |30 encloses a compression spring |3| by whichthe latching device is normally projected Vbeyond the periphery of the stud and thereby maintained in latching position. The Shanks |30 are retained in their sockets by screws |32 screwed into the outer ends of the studs, the inner ends of the screws projecting into slots |33 formed in the stems. Each latching device |29 is provided with a pin |34 by which it is prevented from turning, the studs |21; being provided with diametrically yextending bores |35 iii-which the pins may slide.

This construction is such that when the latchingdevices |29: areprojected outwardly by the springs I3 they will not pass through the sockets |28 formed in the block |24, buta pressure of a thumb or linger against each of the latching devices is suicient to force them into flush relations with the studs. The latching devices will then 'pass through the sockets |28 to permit attaching and detaching the Afastener-supplying unit.

Preferably, the block |24 and the latching devices |29 are provided with inclined contacting surfaces |35` arranged to cooperate with a wedging or camming eect to maintain the right-hand surface vof the block seated against the frame 20, the springs |3| being thus utilized not only to prevent accidental detachment of the unit but also to take up all loose play lengthwise of the supporting studs |21'. The left-hand extremities of the studs |21 and of the latching devices |29 are preferably tapered as indicated at |31 to enable the block |24 to be forced over them when mounting a unit, without requiring any special manipulation of the latching devices. Special manipulation of these devices isnecessary only when a raceway unit is 'about to be demounted.

As in the former construction disclosed in rvent congestion in the hopper |2|.

said Letters Patent No. 1,900,055, the movable section |25 ofthe raceway isy provided with a tongue |40 (Fig. 1) formed and arranged to slide into a groove 4| as the fastener-supplying unit rslides along the supporting studs |21, this groove being formed in the upper end of a rock-shaft |42 by which the section |25 is oscillated to present fasteners successively to fastener-inserting devices not shownherein. The rock-shaft |42 is journaled in a boss |43 formed on the frame 20 and is provided with an arm |44 by which it may be operated. `The arm may be pinned or otherwise aixed to the rock-shaft. A torsion spring|45 coiled about the rock-shaft normally maintains the delivery end of the raceway in its fastener-presenting, position, thelower extremity of the spring being hooked: into a socket in a collar |45 and the upper end being. arranged to bear against the frame 20. The collar |46 is secured to the rock-shaft |42 by set-screws |41 and may be adjusted rotatively to put the springs under initial deflection. Refractory movement of the delivery end of the raceway is communicated to the arm |44 by a link |48, the source of such motion being not shown herein.

rhe hopper |2| is provided with two oppositely ,inclined bottom walls |50 on which eyelets that stand flange down may slideA in process of being emitted through outlet ports |5| to the divisions |22 and |23 of the raceway. Emission of the eyelets is effected by rotary brushes, one of which is indicatedA at |52 in Fig. 1. These brushes are `manipulation to establish-.driving relations with the feeding devices |52,v other than mountingvv a fastener-supplying unit on the two supporting studs |21 in the manner'hereinbefore described. For this purpose, two pulleys are mounted to lie under the walls |50 respectively, the pulley at the left of Fig. 1 being alxed' to a shaft |56 journaled in a bracket |51I aiilxed to the frame 20. The other pulley |55 is mounted on a spindle |58 projecting from a socket |59 formed on `the frame 20. The axes of the pulleys |55 are oppositely inclined and sov located as to register respectively withl the axes of the two brushes |52. Each pulley is provided with an eccentric lug |00 arranged to engage and drive one ofthe lugs |54. Rotation is communicated to the right-hand pulley from any convenient source by a train of gears one of which, indicated at |66,` is mounted on the stem |58 and operatively connected to the adjacent pulley from which rotation is communicated to the other pulley by a belt |6| that runs under idle rolls |62. One of these rolls appears in Fig. 1 but the other is concealed by the intervening bracket |51'.

The hopper |2| may be supplemented, if desired, by a detachable superposed section |10 designed to store and supply a. relatively great quantity of fasteners and at the same time pre- If the section |10 is used it may be arranged to cover the mouth of the hopper and may be attached thereto by a hinge-pin |1| (Fig. 4), the hopper being provided with ears |12 and the section |10 being provided with vcomplemental ears |13 through -which the hinge-pin may be inserted. A spring- `latch |14 secured tothe opposite side of the hopper is arranged to snap over a flange projecting from the base of the section |10 to maintain the latter firmly seated upon the mouth of the hopper. The spring-latch permits the section |19 tol be raised and swung about the hingepin l'il to uncover the mouth of the hopper.

The section |13 is also provided with ears llt near its upper edge to receive a hinge-pin |11 by which a lid or closure |88 may be attached thereto, the lid having complemental ears |18 through which thlspin may extend. A springlatch |19 secured to the opposite side of the section 11d is formed and arranged to snap over the edge of the lid it!! and thereby maintains the latter firmly seated on the upper edge of this section. This latch permits raising ie lid to give access to the section |10. If the operating conditions do not require a capacity for fasteners greater than that alforded by the hopper |2| alone, the detachable section |10 may be omitted and the lid itil may be attached directly to the ears |12 by inserting one of the hinge-pins through the ears thus brought into cooperative relation, the arrangement of the ears `|12 corresponding to that of the ears |16 to render the section |19 and the lid |88 interchangeable for attachment directly to the hopper |2l. On the other hand, if it were desired to increase the capacity of the hopper to a greater extent than that aiforded by one superposed section |10, two or more such sections could be stacked one upon another and secured in cooperative relation by inserting a hinge-pin through the ears |15 of each section and through the ears |13 of the section next above it. The spring-latches |19 would then be eifective to maintain the superposed sectio-ns securely in stacked relation. When the lid |85 is attached directly to the hopper |2 its rim will take the place of a flange |15 of a section |1i and will be secured by the spring-latch Preferably, the upright wall of the upper section 18 is made of perforated sheet metal or other foraminous metal to aiord observation of the contents without opening the lid. Moreover, the upper section lie is preferably provided with a depressed or dished bottom wall |8| formed and arranged to enter the lower section l2 This wall is provided with a central opening |82 substantially smaller and lower than the mouth of the lower section, and through which fasteners may be discharged in small volume between the brushes L52, the function of the wall being to prevent congestion of the fasteners in the lower section which it does by restricting replenishment of the latter to a small proportion of its capacity and by supporting the greater part of the mass of fasteners remaining in the section |16.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A fastener-inserting machine comprising a frame, a detachable fastener-supplyingunit including fastener-supplying brushes arranged to rotate about angularly related axes, said frame and said unit being provided with cooperative interengaging members for supporting the unit in an operative position, and rotary brush-driving members journaled in said frame to rotate about said axes respectively, said brushes and said driving members being provided with brush-driving lugs arranged to be brought into cooperative relation by arranging said unit in said operative position.

2. A fastener-inserting machine comprising a frame provided with a plurality of laterally projecting raceway-supporting members, a detachable fastener-supplying unit including a raceway, a hopper and a pluraiity of individually rotatable fastener-supplying brushes journaled in the hopper on separate axes, and a plurality of rotary brush-driving members journaled in said frame to rotate about axes corresponding respectively to those of said brushes, said brushdriving members and said brushes being provided with brush-driving lugs arranged to be brought into cooperative relation by arranging said raceway onsaid laterally projecting members.

3. A fastener-supplying hopper comprising a lower section having a mouth at the top and one or more ports for emitting fasteners, and a detachable upper section formed to be seated on and supported by said lower section, said sections being provided with cooperative means for connecting them, andthe upper section having a depressed bottom wall formed and arranged to cover said mouth and enter the lower section and provided with a restrictive opening through which fasteners may be discharged in small volume at a level substantially lower than said mouth.

4. A fastener-supplying hopper comprising a lower section having ports for emitting fasteners, a detachable upper section formed to be seated on the rim of said lower section, said sections being provided with cooperative means for connecting them, and two fastener-ejecting members arranged in said lower section and spaced apart Y laterally one from the other, the upper section having a bottom wall provided with a restrictive opening arranged to deliver fasteners into the space between said fastener-ejecting members.

5. A fastener-supplying hopper comprising a lower section, a detachable upper section and a detachable lid, said sections being provided with cooperative hinge-forming portions arranged to receive a detachable hinge-pin, and said upper section and the lid being provided with other cooperative hinge-forming portions similarly arranged to receive a detachable hinge-pin, said hinge-forming portions of the lower section and of the lid being arranged to be cooperatively related to receive a hinge-pin when the upper section is omitted from the assemblage.

6. A fastener-supplying hopper comprising a plurality of separable sections formed to cooperate in stacked relation and having cooperative coupling means by which they may be secured one to another in that relation, the lower section having means for emitting fasteners, and the contiguous section having a depressed fastenersupporting portion formed and arranged to enter the lower section and provided with a restrictive opening through which fasteners may be discharged only in small Volumes.

'.7. A fastener-inserting machine comprising a detachable raceway having a socket open at both ends, raceway-supporting means including a member arranged to extend through and beyond said socket, and a spring-stressed latching device mortised into said member to secure the raceway thereon, the latching device normally projecting from one side of said member and being repressible to iiush relation therewith to permit its passing through the socket.

AXEL A. LAWSON. 

